Sheet glass apparatus



July 9, 1935. w. WILDERMUTH 2,007,782

SHEET GLAS S APPARATUS (Ittorneg July 9, 1935. w wuERwTH '2,0o7,782

SHEET GLASS APPARATUS Filed May l, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 aJ/LLIAM LU/LDEFMUTH.

July 9, '1935. w. WILDERMUTH 2,007,782

SHEET GLASS APPARATUS Filed May 1, 1933 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 J/LL/ M U/LDEEMUTH.

(ttorneg Patented July 9, 1935 u NI si' es *PATENT o'F F c E '11 Ciaim's.

'ime present inventon relates broadly 'to `t -e art of p oueng sheet gias s ah'ci morepartioulariy tomptovenierits in the appartus employed for 'ntaini g t-he sheet being'fcaxmed ataeubsta'- `tialiy oor ta uniform width.

Although mention 'is not 'limited -to ise With any particula' system of producing sheet g1ass,-yet it has been' e'specially tiesigndfor-and of utility when emp-loyetl connection with `a eontinn'ous sheet giass drawing ine of the general type exemp'iied in the patent t colbirm No. i;248,899, g-r anted De''em'bA, 1:91'7. In sich machine, a c'ontiiiious sheet of glassisdrawn npwait-dit ironi a bath of molten glas s and then 'While stili in a'serrii-pla'stic condition, although substanti ly set in -its final *sheet `form, is 'de'- e hending menber and oarrie'd ho'izontelly into and through an annealing leer. As is weil `'in the art sme means must'be b'rvied to n-tain the width of the sheet being irawn; ethe-tw it wiii grauaHynatrow-down and eventual-y draw to a thread. in the commercial operation of Colbur machine, it has been customary *to make use of so oal led khu'rled iollei' s which aire os tioned to engage o'pbd-'site side's'f 'the gia-ss sheet at each edge thereof and 'which are -`driven in a manner .to ?maintain the 'said sheet to width. These knurled r oilers are usually posi-soma to eigagethe "base or menscus of the sheet being formed. v i v An important object o'f this invenit-ieri 'is the provision of nlovei means `fot a; knu'rled roller-s a t eache'ge of the 'glass sheet being formed "in "such a inanner that the said 'ollers may be realy and Conveniently 'moved into operative'relation with respect to `'the sheet or out of such position foithe 'purpose 'of 'repair Another' object *of the inven'tion is the prevision of a kn'm ied *roli-er ui -it -'ateac h edgeof the glass -shee't einboying means forraisi'ng andi-owering-the'roilerstogether with means for adjust'- ng the 'angle of the said ifo'l les relative to ,the sheet being drawn" to meet dififht opa-&eng conditions. v i

A uthr .object of the .inventien is the pror vision of .novel means `oref fecting the continu- Gus' ci'roulation of a cooling ;fluid through the knuriec rolle's whereiey to prevent overheating thereof and, also Tto'exert -a;-:coo1ing efiect kupen theedgeofthe giassisheet. e 1

Other objeetsand advantages o'f the in enti'on will :becomemore sazpparentduring the course of the following description when taken in' connection 'with 'the accompanying 'drawings In the drawings wherein like numerais' are e'm- -p1oyed to dsignate 'like parts throughout the same,

r Fig. '1 is a side elevation, partially in section, of

one *of the knurled roller Units oonstructed in 'eecordance 'with the' present invention and. shown 'in operative relation with respect to oneedge of 'the glass sheet'heing formed,

Fig, 2 is aplanview thereof, I i

Pie 3 is a transverse section taken substantially'on 1ine'3--3 of -Fig.`1, Fig. 4 isa deta'l section 'taken'substantially on "lihet-'4 of Fig. '1, and r r Fig. :5 is a plan viewshowing the supporting cas'in'g's for the knurled rollers disassoc'iated and turned at -an angle away from one another A1though,"as pointed 0nt above, thepresent ine z'ntion is "not ?limited 'to use in connection with' Vo any one "system of -producing sheet glass, 'it 'is particularly adapted to those systems wheren'the `glass' s'heet 'is drawn 'upwardly from 'a bath of 'moltenglass `'For eXamp1e, in'Fig. 1 othedrawing's, the nuin'eral 'i@ designates a reiatively shallow `receptacle or draw-pot'contaihng a bath of m-olten glass ii from which the sheet 92 is being drawn upwardly. The sheet I 2 maysbe annealed while being caf'iedveitieaily or it may be defi'ectedi-in to the horizontal plane and. passed'horizontally throughan anneaiing ieer. In :either oasahowever, and in theabsenoeof'suitable width maintaining devices, the 'sheet does not "keepla 'desir'ed width'. To prevent this harrowing of the sheet, it hasfbeen customary to provide a pairof k'nurle'd roilers :is and 3 engaging oppositesides of the glass sheet at each 'edge zthereof. These Tollrs a-re preferably driven in ithedireotion of movement :of the sheet but at :a reiatively :slower speed zandifunct-ion to maintain the said sheetto width. The action o' the knurled rol'lers results in the formatio n of 'elatveiy heavy knuried 'edge po-rticns `Etien ,the glass sheet -Inamuch as the knurled roller units at opposite edges of the glass sheetate identical in Construction ena 'operation', amy 'one nnit'has been illst'rated .in' the drawingsjand willibe described in detaii he'r'in. How eve?, fit "is ,to b e n'derstobd that the ap'pai'atus is simply *dubiic'ated t `opposite dges of the sheet. g he knuri'eq roller unitis ldsigated in its enr tiretyhy me letter A and inom des a supp orting table orfcaiqria g e oomprisingja 'suhstantiailyihorie'rs :e -i i andassociated*parte n mounted'.

The platform [6 is provided along the opposite side edges thereof with the longitudinally extending depending side pieces or fianges |1 and l8 respectively which provide bearings for the transverse shafts !9 and 20, the shaft |9 carrying at its opposite ends supporting wheels 2| and 22, while the shaft 20 carries at its opposite ends similar wheels 23 and 24.

The shafts !9 and 28 pass transversely through the side fianges |1 and |8 adjacent the front and rear ends respectively of the platform |6 and project outwardly therebeyond. Each of the four supporting wheels 2I, 22, 23 and 24 is rotatably mounted upon a. transverse stub shaft 25 carried in a bearing porti-on 26 formed at the outer end of an arm 21, the inner end of said arm being also formed with a bearing portion 28 for receiving the adjacent end of the respective shaft !9 or 20 therethrough. The arm 21 is fixed to the shaft by a key or the like 29 so as to' turn therewith.

The wheels 2| and 23 are supported upon and adapted to run along within a channel beam 36, while the wheels 22 and 24 are supported upon and run along within a similar channel beam 3l. These channel beams are rigidly supported at the 'side of the sheet glass forming machine and extend transversely thereof so that the knurled roller unit A can be moved bodily laterally of the machine into or out of operative position.

carried by or formed integral with the bearing portion 28 of the arm 21 carrying supporting wheel 24 is an arcuate fiange 32 (Fig. 1) to which is secured, by means of bolts or screws 33, an a'cuately curved rack bar or segment 34 having formed upon its outer face the teeth 35. Mounted upon the platform 6 opposite the segment 34 are the spaced bearings 36 and 31 within which is mounted a horizontal shaft 38. Fixed to this shaft between' the bearings 36 and 31 is a worm 39 meshing with the teeth 35 of segment 34. Carried at the outer end of shaft 38 is a hand wheel 46 to facilitate rotation thereof. Upon turning of the shaft 38, the worm 39 meshing with the teeth on segment 34 will impart a rotary motion to the shaft 20 and eect the raising or lowering of the arms 21 and consequently the rear end of platform l6.

Also carried by or formed integral with the bearing portion 28 of the arm 21 carrying supporting wheel 2| is an arcuate flange 4l (Fig. 3) to which is securedby screws or the like 42 a segment 43 similar to segment 34 and being provided with a series of teeth 44. Mounted upon the platform !6 opposite the segment are the spaced bearings 45 and 46 within which is journaled a shaft 41, said shaft having keyed thereto a worm 48 meshing with the teeth on segment 43. The shaft 41 extends rearwardly through a third bearing 48 and carries at its outer end a hand wheel 50. Upon rotation of shaft 41, it will be seen that shaft [9 will be likewise rotated through the intermediary of the worm 48 and segment 43 whereby to effect the raising or lowering of the forward end of platform l6.

From the above, it will be seen that by properly manipulating the two hand wheels 40 and 50, the operator can raise or lower the knurled rollers I 3 and |4 bodily vertically or by tilting the platform !6 can tilt the knurls so that they will be inclined at the desired angle with respect to the edge of the glass sheet. This tilting adjustment of the knurled rollers is desirable in order to meet different Operating conditions. An inverted substantially U-shaped guard 5l (Fig. 3) may be arranged over each w-orm 38 and 48, if preferred, so as to protect the same.

Mounted upon the platform !6, adjacent the forward end thereof, is a housing 52 fastened to the said platform by screws or the like 53. Supported upon the top of housing 52 is a stationary casing 54 suitably Secured thereto by screws or other fastening elements 55. Associated with the stationary casing 54 is a movable casing 56 pivotally carried by the said stationary casing in a manner to be more fully hereinafter described.

Carried by or formed integral with the stationary casing 54 is a forwardly extending upwardly inclined bearing sleeve 51 within which is arranged a tubular member 58, said member projecting forwardly beyond the sleeve and having fixed upon its outer end the knurled roller !3 which, as shown in Fig. l, is hollow so that a suitable temperature control medium, such as water or the like, may be circulated therethrough. The sleeve 51 is provided at its opposite ends with bearings 59 and 66 within which the tubular member 58 is rotatably mounted. The said tubular member 58 also projects rearwardly through the casing 54 and is supported in a third bearing 6l with which the said casing is formed.

Carried by or formed integral with the movable casing 56 is a forwardly extending upwardly inclined bearing sleeve 62 similar to bearing sleeve 51 and within which is arranged a tubular member 63, to the outer end of which is fixed the knurled roller M. The bearing sleeve 62 is also provided at its opposite ends with bearings 54 and 65 (Figs. 2 and 4) within which the tubular member 63 is journaled. The said tubular member 63 projects rearwardly through the casing 56 and is supported in a third bearing 66 formed upon the said casing.

A circulation of water or other cooling fluid is adapted to be maintained through each of the knurled rollers 13 and |4 to prevent overheating thereof and also to exert a cooling effect upon the edge of the glass sheet. To' this end, there is arranged longitudinally within the tubular members 58 and 63 and concentric thereof, the inlet pipes 61 and 68 respectively, the outer ends of said pipes preferably projecting slightly beyond the tubular members into the knurled rollers l and !4. The water or other cooling fluid fiows in through the pipes 61 and 68 and, after circulating through the knurled rollers, fiows outwardly through the tubular members 58 and 63 in surrounding relation to the said pipes.

Formed integral with the stationary casing 54 and extending rearwardly therefrom is a receptacle 69 having at its outer end a lateral extension 18, said receptacle being provided with a cover 1l which, hcwever, is not arranged over the lateral extension 10. Formed integral with the movable casing 56 and also extending rearwardly therefrom is a trough 12, the outer end of which overhangs the lateral extension 10 of receptacle 69 as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 4, said trough being likewise provided with a cover 13.

The tubular member 58 carrying knurled roller |3 terminates at its inner end just short of the outer end wall 14 of receptacle 69 while the inlet pipe 61 projects rearwardly through an opening 15 in the end wall of said receptacle. Lkewise, the tubular member 53, carrying knurled roller l4, terminates at its inner end just short of the outer end wall 16 of trough 12, while the inlet pipe 68 projects rearwardly through an opening 11 in the said end wall of the trough. The coolversely of said sheet to bring-the width maintaining members into or out of operative relation with respect thereto, and means for swinging' said wheels about horizontal axes to move' theplatform and width maintaining members vertically.

2. In sheet glass apparatus, wherein the sheet is drawn upwardly from a bath'of molten glass,

a pair of width maintaining members engaging opposite sides of the sheet at 'each'edge thereof a carriage upon which said members are mounted and including a substantially horizontal. platform, wheels supporting the carriage adj'acent the opposite ends thereof, railsextending transversely with respect to the sheet and'upon which .the said wheels are adapted to run whereby the said carriage may be moved bodily transversely of said sheet to bring the width maintaining members into or out of operative relation with respect thereto, and means for independently swinging the wheels at the opposite ends-of the carriage about horizontal axes to move the said platform and width maintaining members Vertically or to tilt the same.

3. In sheet glass apparatus, wherein the sheet is drawn upwardly from a bath of molten glass, a pair of width maintaining members engaging opposite sides of the sheet at each edge thereof, a carriage upon which said members are mounted and including a substantially horizontal platform, transverse shafts ,carried by the carriage adjacent the opposite ends thereof, wheels carried by said shafts and supporting the carriage, rails extending transversely with respect to the sheet and upon which the said wheels are adapted to run wherebythe said carriage may be moved bod'ly transversely of. said sheet to bring the width maintaining members into or out of operative relation with respect thereto, and separate means for independently rotating said shafts to effect vertical or tilting movement of the platform and width maintaining members. i

4. In sheet glass apparatus, wherein the sheet is drawn upwardly from a bath of molten glass, a pair of rollers engaging opposite sides of the sheet at each edge thereof to maintain the said sheet to width, a portable wheeled carriage, a

stationary casing mounted upon the carriage and' supporting one of said rollers, a movable casing carried by said stationary casing and supporting the other roller, and meansfor moving the movable casing relative to the stationary casing to move the roller supported thereby toward or away from the roller supported by the stationary casing.

5. In sheet glass apparatus, wherein the sheet is drawn upwardly from a bath of molten glass, a pair of rollers engaging opposite sides of the sheet at each edge thereof` to maintain the said sheet to width, a portable wheeled carriage, a stationary casing mounted upon the carriage and supporting one of saidrollers, a movable casing carried by said stationary casing and supporting the other roller, means for moving the movable casing relative to the stationary casing to move the roller supported thereby toward or away from the roller supported by the stationary casing, means for driving said rollers, and means for yieldably urging the said rollers toward one another. V i i 6. In sheet glass apparatus, wherein the sheet is drawn upwardly from a bath of molten glass, a pair of rollers engaging opposite sides of the sheet at each edge thereof to maintain the said sheet to width, a portable wheeled carriage, a stationarycasing mountdupqn the carriage .and

supporting one of said rollers, a movable casing pivotally, carried by said stationary casing and supporting the other roller, means tor pvoting the movable casing relative to the stationary casing to move the roller supported thereby toward or away from the roller supported by the stationary casing, means for driving said rollers, and means for circulating a cooling fluid therethrough.

7. In sheet glass apparatus, wherein the sheet is drawn upwardly from a bath of molten glass, a pair of. rollers engaging opposite sides of the sheet at each edge thereof to maintain the said sheet to width, a portable wheeled carriage, a stationary casing mounted upon the carriage and supporting one of said rollers, a movable casing carried by said stationary casing and supporting the other roller, means for moving the movable casing relative to the stationary casing to move the roller supported thereby toward or away from the roller supported by the stationary casing, means for circulating a cooling fluid through the rollers including inlet pipes feeding into the said rollers and tubular. members for conducting the cooling fluid therefrom, a receptacle carried by the stationary casing, and a trough carried by the movable casing and positioned to overhang said receptacle, the cooling fluid issuing from one tubular member being received directly within the receptacle while the cooling fluid discharged from the other tubular members flow first trough and thence into said receptacle.

8. In sheet glass apparatus, wherein the sheet is drawn upwardly from a bath of molten glass, a portable wheeled carriage, a stationary casing mounted upon the carriage, a movable casing carried by said stationary casing, forwardly extending hearing sleeves carried by the said stationary and movable casings, tubular members rotatably supported within the bearing sleeves and projecting therebeyondat the outer ends thereof, knurled rollers carried by the tubular members and engaging opposite sides of the sheet at the edge thereof, means for rotating the knurled rollers, means for circulating a cooling fluid therethrough, and means for moving the movable casing relative to the stationary casing to move the knurled rollers toward or' away from one another.

9. In sheet glass apparatus, wherein the sheet is drawn upwardly from a bath of molten glass, a portable wheeled carriage, a stationary casing mounted upon the carriage, a movable casing carried by said stationary casing, forwardly extending bearing sleeves carried by the said stationary and movable casings, tubular members rotatably supported within the hearing sleeves and projecting therebeyond at the outer ends thereof, knurled rollers carried by the tubular members and engaging opposite sides of the sheet at the edge thereof, means for rotating the knurled rollers, means for moving the movable casing relative to the stationary casing to move the knurled rollers toward or away from one another, and means for circulating a cooling fluid through said rollers including inlet pipes extending longitudinally through the tubular members and feeding into the knurled rollers, a receptacle carried by the stationary casing and projecting real'- wardly therefrom, and a trough carried by the movable casing and also extending rearwardly therefrom in overhanging relation to said receptacle, the cooling fluid issuing from one tubular member directly, into the receptacle, while the cooling fluid is discharged from the other-tubuinto the lar member first into said trough from which it fiows into said receptacle.

10. In sheet glass apparatus, wheren the sheet is drawn upwardly from a bath of'molten glass, a portabie wheeled carriage including a substantially horizontal platform, a housing mounted upon said platform, a stationary casing supported upon said housing, a movable casing pivotally carred by said stationary casing, forwardly extending hearing sleeves carried by the said stationary and movable casings, tubular members rotatably supportedwithin the hearing sleeves 'and projecting therebeyond at the outer ends thereof, knurled rollers carried by the tubular members and engaging opposite sides of the glass sheet at the edge thereof,` a Vertical shaft journaled within said housing, a motor mounted upon said platform, operative drive connections between said motor and shaft, and operative drive connections between said'shaft and tubular members carrying the knurled rollers.

11.111 sheet glass apparatus, wherein the sheet is drawn upwardly from a bath of molten glass, a pair of width maintaining members engaging opposite sides of the sheet at each edge thereof, a carriage upon which said members are mounted, a transverse shaft carried by the carriage adjacent each end. thereof, arms secured to each shaft at opposite ends thereof, wheels carried at the outer ends of said arms and supr respect thereto, a rack bar carried. by one of the' arms on each shaft, worms mounted upon the carriage and engaging the rack bars, and. separate means for independently rotating said worms to effect rotaton of the shafts and cause vertical o'r tilting movement of the carriage and 20 width maintaining members.

WILLIAM WILDERMUTH. 

